AN INTERESTING WORLD RESEARCH STUDY OF EVERY CHURCH IN ONE SAMPLE CITY, FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SEE INFORMATION ABOUT CHURCH.
As
*** - Three asterisks means it's the most important sentence to read.
** - Means
it's quite important.
* - Means it's interesting.
***1. # of people: 192.
Sunday 9.30am 500p Special Speaker Tim Hall 10/9/00.
(One service)
Sunday 9.30am Special day 450ppl 31/12/00. (One service)
Sunday 9.30am 327ppl 8 July 2001. (One service)
2. Chairs available: 936.
3. Type of person: There are many ex-C.O.C and T.C.C. people here. Less people
flow back to COC and TCC.
4. Socio- Economic Status: Middle class, almost no working class.
5. Kids: 11 children in Sunday School. 10 were in church. Catalyst group is
for 17-25yo. Fusion 12-17yo. Group 25-40yo.
6. Ages: 20 were 60+. 25 were 18-30yo. The rest family age.
***7. 39% were Men: In a sample group of 165 adults there
were 64 men and 101 women.
**8. Offering: Not given. (Garden City Brisbane AOG report $20,000 per
week.)
9. Late arrivals: 5 at 8.30am; 4 at 8.25am.
***10. Interesting info: AOG are more
musical than most churches. TCC are more political, Uniting are more care focused, Baptists
are focused onto missionaries. Fred
Evans said from the pulpit "10,000 people worship every week at Hillsong
in Sydney."
11. Date & Time spent: 23 Feb 2003 with Fred Evans. 8.15am- noon.
12. When service finished. 1hr 30m
13. This & other service times: 8.30am; 10.30am & 6pm
14. Preacher: Senior Pastor Brendan Kelly (& wife Margaret Kelly) was head of the Bible College "College of Christian Studies" at this church prior to 2005 and he stepped into Senior Pastor role when Ted Evans left. Brendan Kelly preached in 2007 he would like to see this physical church be built so big that it would be known throughout the world. A former stalwart member of this church said in December 2008 "The members never voted Ted Evans in, the elders told us to vote for him. The elders then told us to vote for Brendan Kelly. All the older people are leaving. Most of the staff at the church got turned around when Ted Evans left." **Previous Pastor Ted Evans once said "I was born in PNG, lived
there till I was 10-11yo, lived most of my life in South Australia." Pastor Jonathon Oastler was a Pastor in AOG Spring St in 2006, his children immediately started at Christian Outreach College subsidised (non scholarship). There was a change of management. In 2007 Pastor Jonathon Oastler became Senior Pastor at CHRISTIAN OUTREACH CENTRE Toowoomba.
15. Feeling of building: AIR-CONDITIONING COSTS CHURCH $80,000 for Assembly
of God "Spring St Christian Church." It is not known why this was afforded as Evans was planning a completely new building. Probably due to a board of yes men. Gone are strong business men like Mr Reisenger and Mr Hitzke and in, are helps/ mercy people like Mrs French and Mr Lorenz.
***16. Their belief: Original Leaders in the Charismatic/
Pentecostal movement. MUSIC TEAM IS NOT ALOUD TO DRINK ALCOHOL AT ALL AT Assembly
of God.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
18. How to get there: Travel south towards K-Mart along Ruthven St, turn left
into Spring St, travel 30 metres, turn into property, go 10 metres up driveway
turn first right then right for ample parking.
10.30am ASSEMBLY
OF GOD, SPRING ST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
***1. # of
people: 378.
2. Chairs available: 936.
3. Type of person:
-.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Middle Socio-Economic group, few hands on workers, few unemployed or disabled. Many Asians from University.
5. Kids: 63 children
in Sunday School. The creche at back of church is for 0 months to 24 months and
from Two years to four years is at rear building (The Hub).
6. Ages: There
were 103 people aged 18-30yo's. 28 were 60+.
*7. 44% were Men: In a sample
group of 57 adults there were 25 men and 32 women.
8. Offering: Not given.
9. Late arrivals: -.
10. Interesting info: -.
11. Date & Time spent: 23 Feb 2003 8.15am- noon. 389 people were at 10.30am
on 6 Nov 2005.
12. When service finished. Almost 2 hours.
13. This & other service times: 10.30am; 8.30am & 6pm
14. Preacher:
Brendan & Margaret Kelly in Jan 2009+. (Was Ted Evans as Senior Pastor from Jan 2004 for 3 years. In 2008 is Senior Pastor of Whyalla Community Church, South Australia.)
15. Feeling of building: Many people have said that the church is distant.
**16. Their belief: Original Leaders in the Charismatic/ Pentecostal
movement.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
18. How to get there: Travel south towards K-Mart along Ruthven St, turn
left into Spring St, travel 30 metres, turn into property, go 10 metres up driveway
turn first right then right for ample parking.
19. ACCEPTANCE IN CHURCH AS A VISITOR: In ANY large church
you will not be approached straight away. The ONLY way to get talked to in larger
churches is to join a home group with FEW members. (When a home group is medium full (6 to 13), the leaders and others are cold to new comers and often you won't even be allowed in the door of these rather insular home groups! Well organised churches will place you quickly. Slack churches will take some 2 months. But some churches don't ever get back to you! If this happens, write a note in the offering bag that you asked to be placed 2 months ago and no one has done so.
20. People who talked to me after the service: One.
21. Length of time they talked: 1 min.
22. How soon do visitors get talked to after service?: Generally, they don't get talked to.
23. HOW MUCH CHURCH IS OPEN TO WIDER CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: They do not attend quarterly city wide combined church events.
24. Unusual things about worship: Towards the end of the worship you will hear
a member or two of the public give an exhortation of prophecy which is for the
church as a whole. This person is microphoned eventually. It's never extreme
and goes something like this "The Lord would say He needs His people to
be closer and at one with him, to forget about any problems and worship Him
alone."
25. EMPHASIS OF MINISTRY: 1. Had a "Work for the Dole" program next
door which was a nursery. Land was purchased east of the church in 2002 where
individuals pledged $500 for their "allotment". 2. Isaac Moody who
leads the "Australian Gospel Music Festival" had worshipped here but conducts
his ministry with his old church TCC. 3. Teen Challenge is an AOG live- in drug
rehabilitation centre in Bedford St. CLIVE BERGHOFFER GAVE $700,000 TO TEEN
CHALLENGE Aug 2005 which made the beds available go from 12 to 24. Queensland
State Health had to sell the property some 3 years after leasing it to them.
Clive said it was a worthwhile charity. 4. AOG run a bible college which used to be at TCC.
26. Famous business people: Mr Reisenger from Home Icecream and Pixie Icecream.
(On their national brochures 12.5 million times the "Easterfest" got promoted in 2003.)
27. Famous people: The former Senior Pastor, Fred Evans is Andrew Evan's brother
who once had Australia's biggest AOG church in Adelaide. Fred's sons are David
Evans who is a musician in Brisbane and Ted Evans who was the worship leader
for 7 years and the Senior Pastor from Jan 2004 for 3 years.
28. KNOWABLE SONGS: So many that even regulars don't know the songs.
29. Quality of sound system/ loudness: Ten years ago the church spent $45,000
on the sound system which has been updated including a $5,000 keyboard in about 2003.
30. Quality of preaching generally: Fair.
Brendan Kelly often preached.
31. Meaningfulness/ depth of preaching: You have to wonder about the real depth of the preaching when divorce etc... statistics are the same as the world.
32. Enjoyment/ lightness of preaching: Also quite light.
33. Impact/ deepness/ enjoyment of worship: Worshippers often describe it as
very anointed.
34. Amount of home groups: Most are for youth or marrieds.
35. How to access home groups: The Pastors greatly encourage groups but the welcome mats are never out. They are little more than "let's pat our own back" social clubs and have no concept of teaching much less service. One could try to get a list from the board of home groups at the
back of the church. On the list are phone numbers of the leaders. Phone them
up or ask a church leader to introduce you to the group you like the most.
36. Friendliness of home groups: Some are accepting but many complain that they are cold as ice - worse than the main services.
37. Intention to build: Ted Evans had been talking about a 3,500 seat facility perhaps
north of Toowoomba on a large purchase of land. (RCC rejected Nelson St). In 2001 the members of the church
voted against building again. In 2002 the church went to 2 services on Sunday
mornings instead of only 9.30am.
38. Estimate percentage church owned / rented?: Probably mostly owned. As of
Feb 2003 half of the land east of the church had been purchased.
39. Estimate age of building: Approx mid 1980's.
40. Dowdiness of building outside: Not bad.
41. Inside?: Quite good.
42. Have sister churches where? Paradise AOG in Adelaide swap staff around a
fair bit.
43. Sunday School availability: Yes. (Held in the hall 20 meters south
of the church.)
44. Ages availability: Usual ages, from about 4yo to 13yo.
45. % kids attend: 23 kids in church ages 0-16 for 10am service. 11 kids at
8am with 10 kids 0-16yo in church.
46. Noise of kids at back: Annoying. If you sit 4th row from back or more it can be avoided.
47. Where is bible college? Bible college called "College
of Christian Studies" and clear majority are from this church.
48. Where do kids school? Across the road is the popular Christian Outreach
College which most Charismatic churches send their children to.
49. How many missionaries do they support: Very little are given to missionaries compared to the salary of staff at this church.
**
"Yukana Retirement Village" is physically on the same property as this church "ASSEMBLY OF GOD, SPRING ST CHRISTIAN CHURCH" and the retirement village is run by the church.
50. What cost? -.
51. What is average they give to missions: -.
*52. What is average they give to local poor? This is a good example of how
a church gives to the local poor. Generally some groceries may be collected
by individual parishioners. Very rarely are rent, petrol, groceries delivered
by one volunteer, Mr Lorenz. However, the cost of this is comparitively very small. Perhaps
as low as .01% of expenditure when the United Nations has recommended not 0.28%
of Gross Income but 0.7% is the benchmark to be given for the poor.
*53. International poor? They contribute to build schools in Madagascar.
Orphanages in Phillipines. However, this is usually a special offering which
could be described as like spending one's wage on luxuries then having to get
a 2nd job to put food on the table. Perhaps a percentage of the OFFERING needs to be
given to the poor. Local poor and overseas poor. Pastors have little understanding that the Apostle Paul requested money for the starving poor.
54. Other emphasis on giving: -.
55. Per head total giving: -.
56. Extent of other church programs: -.
57. Pastor receive wage? Yes, as well as many others. People in the congregation have complained loudly over the new fancy cars, houses, farm.
58. How much? -.
59. Qualifications of Pastor: Most Pastors do an external course for a couple of years. Ted Evans was a missionary's kid in PNG for many years as
a child.
* The "College of Christian Studies Toowoomba" is no longer sponsored
by Vision Church nor Toowoomba City Church." The sole sponsor as of the
end of 2003 is "Spring St Christian Church" where the college is located. (19 full time & 3 part time students began in 2004.
Only 3 students were not from "Spring St Christian Church". 12 volunteer
lecturers.)
60. Estimated of parishioners complaints. People often tell me that no one talks
to them.
61. Estimated ability to resolve parishioners complaints: Poor.
6pm ASSEMBLY OF GOD, SPRING ST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
1. # of
people: 245p.
Sunday 6pm 200 people 25/3/01.
Sunday 6pm 175 people 22
April 2001.
Sunday 6pm 200 people 29/4/01.
Sunday 6pm 195 people 30/10/01.
Sunday 6pm 194 people 12/5/02.
Sunday 6pm 2 May 2004 182 people.
Sunday 6pm 194 people on 29 Nov 04
Sunday 6pm 564 people on 20 Feb 2005 (Due
to T.D. Jakes DVD/ Video multi-series on The Family)
2. Chairs available: 936.
3. Type of person: -.
4. Socio- Economic Status: Medium.
*5. Kids: The Youth groups are held on different nights through the week.
For the youth in their 20's mostly or roughly 18- 32yo there is Catalyst when
108 youth turned up at Wayne Alcorn night 25 Feb 2005. "Fusion" is
a younger youth group again, held on a different night.
6. Ages: Many aged 15-30yo.
7. Men: -%.
8. Offering: -.
9. Late arrivals: Few.
*10. Interesting info: First visit here in 1979, when the church consisted
of about 40 people in the tiny Neil St church near Bowen St.
11. Date & Time spent: 23 Feb 2003 6pm-8.00pm. Have been to this church some 600 times. One person left all churches all together as a result of one paid leader at AOG in a home group. A person had been injured in an AOG Spring St vehicular accident. They expressed their injury to the leader and the female paid leader publicly told the older man to do something which was not possible due to the accident due to great pain. Then the next fortnight publicly admonished the older man. Which is akin to a Pastor twice demanding that a person in a wheelchair not use their wheelchair in church. Why? Probably because the church was negligent in the person's injury and felt guilty. However, no reason was given for the next act. The person was asked to find another home group merely because of the very easily accommodated injury. The person has had continued and sustained pain for over 3 years. The paid female church leader said she indeed represented the churches view. That she spoke for the church. No expected 3 warnings were given. No time was given to heed even one warning. She suggested that this parishioner find another home group to attend. No reason. No warning. No time given between each warning. As a result, that parishioner had not been seen in any church or home group for over 3 years. It was confirmed that the actions of this one leader caused not one but two people to not go back to any church for over 3 years. In another example, a female said the home group situation was as cold as ice and also stopped going to church for a long period of time. Some people blame the parishioners in these situations but here we can see 3 parishioners getting blind sided by "goat" leaders. This example is representative of thousands of people who have left Assembly of God. So great was the pain that the person is not able to talk to anyone from that church nor attend other churches.
12. When service finished. About 7.45pm.
13. This & other service times: 6pm; 8.30am, 10.30am. (The 6pm service changed
to a 5pm service only from 12 June 2005 - 16 Oct 2005.)
14. Preacher: Brendan Kelly (Senior Pastor was Ted Evans. Ted's wife Carolyn Evans [nee Martin]
is daughter of Ps Tony Martin from Sydney who preached 20 Feb 2005.) (Carolyn
said from the pulpit 24 Apr 2005 that Ted Evans owns several horses and he had
gone up to Rockhampton AOG where the Pastor is Claude Fingleton) and before
Ted left a 4WD had hit one of Ted's horses head on and the horse died. Very
soon after, a fence on their stud had broken and another horse was hit. It groaned
all night, stood up, had a heart attack and died.) (Alex Attard was at AOG Spring
St for about 5 years until Oct 05 and left to administer a northern Brisbane
rented AOG church of 200 - 500. On his final sermon he said, in a twist of irony "I believe it's God who is sending me." Immediately one of the 50
helium filled baloons descended half way between the ceiling and floor and hovered.
Everyone chuckled.)
15. Feeling: OK.
*16. Their belief: Charismatic/ Pentecostal. A Pastor at an Assembly of God
church asked a separated woman to leave her two positions in the church when
it was found her separation was unbiblical, (i.e. When a partner had not committed
adultery - i.e. Had extramarital sexual intercourse outside of marriage while
married). She described her husband as a Christian but was abusive. She had
held a Royal Rangers position and helped with child care. Someone in the AOG
church also contacted a Christian radio station and asked them to not allow
her to remain in her position there. In another similar situation, a Pastor
at another Assembly of God church asked another woman to not be a leader in
home group as she was in a de-facto relationship. She planned to sue the church
and it made front page headlines in the towns main newspaper. (This denomination does
not allow these behaviours while holding any volunteer position in the church
or even membership in the church, however, it would be unusual for any Charismatic
or evangelical church to disallow anyone from attending or just coming to church.)
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
18. How to get there: Travel south towards K-Mart along Ruthven St, turn left
into Spring St, travel 30 metres, turn into property, go 10 metres up driveway
turn, right for parking.
EXAMPLES
OF ADDITIONAL NUMBERS I have personally counted. (It seems like there are more
people in this church but these numbers are correct.)
Monday 7pm 18
June 2001 Pat Mesiti 310 people.
WHY DID NUMBERS
JUMP FROM 194 TO 564 FOR OVER 2 MONTHS IN 2005?
Sunday 6pm T.D. Jakes. 564
people came to this on the 20 Feb 2005 which was about the 3rd Sunday night of
the DVD/ Video multi-series on "The Family". The program was run like
this- Usual worship songs > Announcements > Video > Coffee break midway
with bought slices for 20 minutes > 2nd half of Video which ended at 7.32pm
> 2 Songs > Alter call.
Congregation One.
1. Number of people: 95 (Was 88 on 25 April 2004.) (Was once
373 when collectively met.)
2. Number of chairs: -.
3. Type of person: -.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Medium. Not low.
5. Amount of kids: Was about 15 0-17yo. There is a 2yo - 5yo kids church as
well as normal primary kids church.
6. Ages of people: Mostly young families and youth.
**7. Percentage of men in church: For
those interested in research I came across this remarkable find or anomaly.
Generally, I have found that across the board of most churches the percentage
of men in church are down to about 37%. However, I had found this. That from
the age group of 19 to 30 year old's there were exactly 50% each of women and
men. (30 in total.) They were singles as well. This was proven again in this
church in April 2004 as there were about eleven single males as well as eleven
single females aged 18- 50yo.
*As expected, in this church, out of the older age group, once again, 37% were
OLDER men (aged 30+). So, out of one small sample group of 41 adults there were
26 women 15 men.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
**10. Pastor Chris Mulhare was raised in Toowoomba and attended the largest youth group in Toowoomba at Margaret St Church of Christ in the 1980's with his then girlfriend, now wife Sue. Later becoming a Pastor. This church was known as Victory until March 2001.
**
Any other interesting
information: There was no Sunday night service at New Hope Church
at April 2004. There were 3 congregations which meet collectively once every
two months as of April 2004. Pastor Chris Mulhare used to go every week to a
different congregation but then spent a calander month in each church in a roster
going from Ps Briese's church in April, Ps Wallace's church in May, Ps Trigg's
church in June 2004 etc... The church once shifted to Amagine in June 2003 prior
to Harristown High.
**Ps Chris & Sue Mulhare was a Pastor at New Hope
AOG Crows Nest Qld, a church planted by New Hope Toowoomba, he then became Senior
Pastor at Toowoomba New Hope AOG, as former Senior Pastor Rod Plummer went to
Tokyo as a contingent of 100 people to plant the first Australian AOG church
in Tokyo, Japan.
**Note: Pastors collect names and addresses from
all visitors and if your visiting from another church they will ask you to not
visit. If you visit 3 times you pretty well automatically become a member or get
put on the books as such. The count of these reported by them are 800 in 1999
and 1000 in 2001. Each Assemblies of God is completely independently owned and
operated however recently New Hope and others operate a network of sister churches
as there are Crows Nest, Highfields (Cultural Centre 9.30am) and Warwick New Hope
churches.
11. Time there AND date of visit: 20 March 2005 9.30am
- 11.45am at Harristown School. 25 April 20004 at Amagine. (Were 160 people 6/99-10/99.)
12. Length of service: 1hr 50m.
13. This and other service times: 9.30am.
(No night service at all.)
14. Preacher: Ps Dean and Nerida Wallace (Still there in 2008) (Snr
Ps Chris Mulhare is sometimes there.)
**15. Feeling of building: Apparently,
the reason behind having 3 congregations is to have a more relational based community.
People were closely knit in home groups but hardly knew other in the larger church.
16. Estimate style of belief: AOG led the charge of the Pentecostal/
Charismatic movement church in the world which means. You do not have to speak
in tongues in order to be saved but like almost every Charismatic church, it's
warmly encouraged and never pushed.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out:
Smart Casual to light formal.
18. How to get there: Travel west along South
St towards Harristown High School. Conference room is immediately to the right
of the old school hall. Plenty of parking east of conference room.
23. HOW
MUCH CHURCH IS OPEN TO WIDER CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: They discourage their members
from going to other churches and inter- related church activities.
NEW HOPE ASSEMBLY OF GOD DID 3 THINGS BY JULY 2008. 1. CLOSED USQ SERVICE DOWN (See http://www.geocities.com/discoverchurch/arcold.htm 2. SHIFTED HERRIES AND RUTHVEN NEW HOPE ASSEMBLY OF GOD TO ORIGINAL BUILDING IN MOFFATT ST. 3. OPENED A COMBINED NIGHT SERVICE.
Congregation Two.
9.30am. NEW HOPE ASSEMBLY OF GOD Moffatt St as of mid 2006. (Until mid 2006 were at RSL Centre, Herries and Ruthven Sts. (Administration is in Moffatt St.) (Formerly "Victory AOG") There are three individual congregations which meet in three different church buildings.
1. Number of people: About 80. (Was 373 when collectively met.)
2. Number of chairs: About 100- 200. (Was 545 chairs).
3. Type of person: -.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Medium. Not low.
5. Amount of kids: -.
6. Ages of people: Mostly young families and youth.
7. Percentage
of men in church: -.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
**10. This church was known as Victory until March 2001.
**Ps Chris Mulhare was a Pastor at New Hope AOG
Crows Nest Qld.
11. Time there AND date of visit: -.
12. Length of service: 1hr 50m.
13. This and other service times: 9.30am. (No night service at all. When New Hope did have a night service - before it split into 3 - on the same night as the Combined Church service at the Empire Theatre, there were 117 people at New Hope on 27/7/2003.)
**Note: None of the AOG churches participate with the quaterly Combined Church service.)
14. Preacher: (Sean Trigg Pastored from March 2005) (Peter Findlay was the former
Pastor who went into the "Family First" political party. PETER FINDLAY
restoring his investment house in 2005 after not winning a seat. ). (Snr Ps Chris
Mulhare is sometimes there.)
**15. Feeling of building: -
16. Estimate style of belief: -.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Smart Casual to light formal.
18. How to get there: Travel towards the city along Ruthven St or Herries St.
1. Number of people: 160.
2. Number of chairs: Approx 545.
3. Type of person: -.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Medium.
5. Amount of kids: A dad said "There's about 20 to 30 kids down there." A primary school aged program runs at night for a gold coin donation.
6. Ages of people: Mostly young families and youth.
7. -% are men.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
10. -.
11. Time there AND date of visit: 23 Mar 2003 7.15pm-7.41pm. 6.00pm- 8.30pm (160 people in 6/99-10/99.)
12. Length of service: 1hr 40m. (7.43pm)
13. This and other service times: 6.00pm. 9.30am.
14. Preacher: Snr Ps Chris Mulhare.
15. Feeling of building: Cold home groups.
16. Estimate style of belief: Pentecostal/ Charismatic.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Smart Casual to Smart.
Congregation Four.
New Hope Assembly of God Highfields.
New Hope Assembly of God gave Rangeville Community Church
$2,000 for their land. New hope were going to buy 5 acres in Highfields but
it was taken off the market and in between they gave $2,000 to Rangeville Community
Church. Someone phoned New Hope and said the land was back on the market. So
they called and the owner said "Well my wife and I were praying about it and
we felt to give you the land for free."
1. 44 people.
2. 125 chairs.
3. Blue collar Charismatics.
4. Socio-
Economic Status: Working.
5. 17 kids.
6. Family age.
7. 7 men thus
13 women.
***8. Weekly offering published: $539 RECEIVED.
$1200 is the "Current Weekly Need."
9. -.
10.
Ps Joe Casey came from Warwick COC and then pastored in St George.
11. Time
AND date. 2/2001 10.05am-10.12pm. (When they were at Warwick St Shopping Centre
had 29 people 2/2001.)
12. Length of service. Allow 1hr 45min - 2 hr 15 min.
13. 9.30am - there was a Sunday 6pm service but it no longer exists as of
early 2004.
14. Ps Joe Casey.
***15. They rent
the building from the Uniting Church, formerly Scotts Uniting. After 3 to 5 years
the Uniting Church ALWAYS sells the church to anyone, typically secular society.
They did this with Raff St which the Choral Society owns, Shannon Pk and church
to the north of the Empire which the council bought. Westside has a 2yr x 2yr
x 2 yr expiring lease.
16. Working class Pentecostals.
17. Dress code: Neat Casual.
18. Travel south to Uni along West St, Turn
right into Stephen St.
1.
Number of people: 50.
2. Number of chairs: 75.
3. Type of person: -.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Medium.
5. Amount of kids: 12 6-9yo.
6. Ages of people: Babies to elderly.
7. 16 of the 50 people were men.
8. Weekly offering published: $1000 average over 4 weeks. (Pastor at Wilsonton AOG would work
part time on his farm.)
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
10. Any other
interesting information:
11. Time there AND date of visit: 10.15am- 12.15pm ish. 2/11/02.
12.
Length of service: Preaching started at 11.15am - 11.55am.
13. This and other
service times: 10am. If a visiting speaker they will have a 6pm service.
14. Preacher: Terry Creedy pastors this church. Basically, in 2008 the name changed to "Impact Christian Centre" at Hume and North St or "Northlands" for a 10am service updated on Aug 2008. In late 2004 the church went under
the cover or banner of "Assembly of God Spring St Christian Church" and was
named "North Extension Service". Terry studied for 2 1/2 years at Rheema
Bible College in Townseville from 1997 to 1999. He was a paid Youth Pastor with
New Hope AOG Toowoomba for two years. Then pastored youth in Melbourne for 4 years
with 100 youth. Then returned to Toowoomba in 2004. He was a parishioner at AOG
Spring St originally. In 2005 Terry hoped to work part time at AOG Spring St and
part time for "North Extension." He worked for the Chronicle in 2004.
Warren Peters pastored from about 1994 to 2004.
15. Feeling of building:
In Fitzpatrick St, actual building is only fair to poor condition but still a great feeling.
16. Estimate style of belief: Pentecostal but with a belief that the church people
can also minister.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
(No ties, 1 ladies hat.)
18. How to get there: Travel to northern end of Hume St.
19. (Note) Acceptance in church as a visitor:
Acceptable.
20. People who talked to me after the service: Three.
21. Length
of time they talked: 4 mins, 3 mins, 1 min.
22. How soon do visitors get talked
to after service?: Straight away.
23. (Note) How much church is open to wider
Christian community: -.
24. Unusual things about worship: You don't hear tongues
but they do lift their hands and clap.
25. (Note) Emphasis of ministry: -.
26. Famous business people: -.
27. Famous people: -.
28. Knowable
songs: Quite knowable Hillsongs.
29. Quality of sound system/ loudness: Not
bad.
30. Quality of preaching generally: Very good.
31. Meaningfulness/
depth of preaching: Yes.
32. Enjoyment/ lightness of preaching: Yes. Not burdensome.
33. Impact/ deepness/ enjoyment of worship: It was good but free praise is
a bit old, guitar went by itself for too long, most people sat down, single guitar
sounded good, Individual praise reports antiquated.
34. Amount of home groups:
Perhaps 2.
35. How to access home groups: See newsletter or Pastor.
36.
Friendliness of home groups: -.
37. Intention to build: The treasurer said
there was little.
38. Estimate percentage church owned / rented?: Rented.
39. Estimate age of building: 50yo.
40. Dowdiness of building outside: A bit
dowdy.
41. Inside?: A fair bit dowdy.
42. Have sister churches where?
3 other AOG churches.
43. Sunday School availability: Yes, before the preaching
starts.
44. Ages availability: 4-12yo.
45. % kids attend: Almost all.
46. Noise of kids at back: Some noise.
47. Where is bible college? Sydney.
48. Where do kids school? -.
49. How many missionaries do they support: -.
50. What cost? -.
51. What is average they give to missions: -.
52. What
is average they give to local poor? $0.
53. International poor? -.
54.
Other emphasis on giving: -.
55. Per head total giving: $1000 div by 50 =
$20.
56. Extent of other church programs: -.
57. Pastor receive stipend?
P/t or none.
58. How much? -.
59. Qualifications of Pastor: Studied at
Sydney AOG Bible College.
60. Estimated of parishioners complaints. -.
61. Estimated ability to resolve parishioners complaints: Perhaps active.
62. Email #'s of Pastor, office, other: -.
63. Cost of visiting preachers
paid: -.
64. Things church is doing to be part of wider community: -.
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NEXT (The above AOG as well as the next page, the "Baptist Union" movement, are undoubtedly the two fastest growing denominations in the world.)